11 August,2026 03:32 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Virat Kohli, T Dilip (PIc: File Pic)
Former Team India fielding coach T Dilip spoke highly of Virat Kohli's skills on the field.
Speaking on JioStar, he said that for Kohli, intensity is non-negotiable. He also said that at this phase of his career, the Delhi-born cricketer's reflexes are admirable.
"When it comes to Virat Kohli, intensity is non-negotiable. You have seen him in the powerplay, how he is as a batsman, whether at cover or short mid-wicket, with his reflexes and with his dives, is admirable," he said.
"Even in the last series, he was putting in those dives and was sharp, always at you all the time. Even at this juncture of his career, he runs from long-on to long-on at either end during the death overs, and he is the first one to run out of the circle when the field is spread, and that's a fabulous thing to do for the team," added Dilip.
What impressed the former fielding coach is Kohli's intent during fielding. He also said that other players also try to push their limits when they are fielding alongside the 37-year-old cricketer.
"But what impressed me more is not just the actions, what he does when the ball is at him, but also when the ball is not near him, he wants the ball in his hands. With Virat Kohli, there is not much difference between him in a practice session and a match, because it's not just Virat; it's the five other players who have stretched their limits when they are fielding with Virat Kohli. That's the influence he brings into the group," he said.
The most recent appearance of Kohli came during the concluded ODI series against England. In the third ODI match against the "Three Lions", the right-handed batsman delivered a knock of 74 runs off 60 deliveries, which was laced with four boundaries and three maximums.
Along with him, Rohit Sharma and skipper Shubman Gill registered crucial knocks. Despite stunning knocks, the "Men in Blue" suffered a loss by 27 runs at the Lord's Cricket Ground in the City of Westminster.
With this, the visitors also lost the three-match ODI series by 1-2 against England.
He has already announced his retirement from T20 Internationals (T20Is) and Test Cricket. The right-handed batsman concluded his Test career with 9230 runs in 123 matches. With a top score of an unbeaten 254 runs, Kohli also has 31 half-centuries and 30 centuries to his name in the format's history.
In the shortest format of the game, the Delhi-born cricketer has smashed 4188 runs. Having donned the Indian T20I colours, he registered his top score of an unbeaten 122 runs before retiring from the format. He also smashed 38 half-centuries and a ton in T20Is.
Currently, he continues to play only in One-Day Internationals (ODIs). So far, he has played 314 ODI matches for the "Men in Blue" and has garnered 14,941 runs. With a top score of 183 runs, he also has 79 half-centuries and 54 tons to his name.
It will be interesting to see if he manages to feature in the ODI World Cup 2027.
